The Trump Administration just shut down over 550 commercial driving schools that were pumping out unqualified truckers and bus drivers onto America’s highways, exposing years of dangerous corner-cutting that put your family at risk every time you hit the road.
Story Snapshot
- Transportation Department orders closure of 448 schools that failed basic safety standards, with 109 more voluntarily shutting down to avoid investigation
- Federal inspectors uncovered systemic violations, including unqualified instructors, inadequate skills testing, and improper training equipment, during 1,426 site visits
- Enforcement action follows deadly crashes involving unauthorized drivers, including the August 2025 Florida incident killing three andthe February 2026 Indiana crash killing four
- California faces $160 million in withheld funding, while Illinois risks losing $128 million for issuing commercial licenses to ineligible immigrants
- Administration marks first-ever enforcement of 2022 safety standards after years of self-certification allowed dangerous operations to flourish unchecked
Years of Regulatory Neglect Finally Addressed
Federal regulators established safety standards for commercial driving schools in 2022, but enforcement mechanisms remained dormant for 4 years as substandard operations proliferated nationwide.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s department conducted 1,426 site inspections that revealed 448 schools employing unqualified instructors, failing to adequately test students’ skills, neglecting hazardous materials training, and using incorrect equipment.
Another 109 schools voluntarily removed themselves from the federal registry upon learning inspections were coming, a clear admission of guilt that speaks volumes about their operations.
Deadly Crashes Expose Immigration Enforcement Failures
The enforcement crackdown came after tragic crashes exposed how states were issuing commercial driver’s licenses to people who shouldn’t have been on American roads.
A Florida crash in August 2025 killed three people, involving a truck driver, Transportation Secretary Duffy identified as unauthorized to be in the United States. Four more Americans died in an Indiana crash earlier this February.
These preventable tragedies revealed that ten states, including California, Illinois, New York, and Texas, had systemic problems with their CDL issuance programs, giving licenses to ineligible immigrants without proper verification.
More than 550 commercial driving schools in the U.S. that train truckers and bus drivers must close, the federal Transportation Department announced Wednesday. https://t.co/Ned7reWPfF
— WGEM News (@WGEM) February 18, 2026
Federal Funding Leverage Forces State Compliance
The Trump Administration isn’t just identifying problems—it’s using financial pressure to force states into compliance. California already faces $160 million in withheld federal transportation funding, while Illinois confronts a potential $128 million loss. An Illinois audit revealed that 20% of the reviewed commercial licenses had problems, demonstrating the scale of state-level failures.
This financial leverage represents exactly the kind of accountability mechanism needed to protect Americans from government incompetence. States that prioritize political agendas over public safety are finally facing consequences for endangering citizens.
Industry Veterans Welcome Overdue Accountability
Established driving schools and trucking industry associations strongly support the enforcement action, recognizing that fly-by-night operations were undermining safety and professional standards. Jeffery Burkhardt, chair of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, stated that legitimate schools have no problem with the crackdown.
Todd Spencer, President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, explained that reliance on questionable schools fueled destructive churn in the industry, with companies cutting corners and pushing undertrained drivers onto the roads. This undermined safety and devalued the entire profession, harming responsible operators who followed the rules.
Self-Certification System Enabled Dangerous Operations
The root problem was a regulatory framework that allowed schools and trucking companies to essentially self-certify when applying to begin operations.
Questionable operations might not be caught until much later, when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducts audits, if they happen at all. This honor system approach failed spectacularly, as evidenced by the scale of violations discovered.
The current enforcement marks the first time regulators have enforced standards supposedly established four years ago, revealing how toothless regulations become without serious oversight and consequences.
Ninety-Seven Schools Still Under Investigation
Beyond the 557 schools already ordered closed or voluntarily shuttered, another 97 commercial driving schools remain under active investigation for potential compliance violations.
Transportation Department officials acknowledged uncertainty about how many students were enrolled at closing schools and how many drivers graduated with questionable qualifications, though they indicated potential follow-up investigations of those graduates.
This ongoing uncertainty raises troubling questions about how many inadequately trained drivers are currently operating commercial vehicles on American highways, representing a lingering threat from years of regulatory neglect under previous administrations.
Sources:
Transportation Department says more than 550 driving schools should close over safety failures
Transportation Department says more than 550 driving schools must close over safety failures
Transportation Department says more than 550 driving schools should close over safety failures
Transportation Department says more than 550 driving schools must close
